8 of the best Lord Howe Island accommodations for island bliss

Bonita Grima Bonita Grima
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Whether you’re wanting an all-inclusive luxury resort, self-catering apartments, or an island-style hideaway, there’s a variety of accommodation options to choose from on Lord Howe Island.

Measuring just 11 kilometres long and around 2.8 kilometres at its widest point, and with visitor numbers restricted to just 400 people at any one time, you might think Lord Howe Island doesn’t have much to offer in terms of accommodation.

The good news is that there’s a range of places to stay during a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage-listed destination, with most offering airport transfers, restaurant pick-ups, and wi-fi.

Here are some of the best Lord Howe Island accommodations to enjoy in between exploring the island.

1. The Cabin

a woman relaxing in a tub at The Cabin, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Spend a glorious day relaxing in a luxurious bath. (Image: Chelsea Holden)

Built with love by 6th generation Lord Howe Islander, Jess Owens and partner, Cameron, The Cabin is Lord Howe Island’s newest accommodation offering and its first fully off-grid retreat, set on five acres of untouched bushland, tucked away behind the family home and farm.

Getting back to nature doesn’t have to mean roughing it either, with The Cabin providing unlimited wi-fi, a luxury indoor bathtub, premium toiletries, plush bedding and furniture, and a welcome hamper packed with gourmet produce – think freshly laid eggs, baked sourdough, organic wines, and honey straight from the hive.

Perfect for couples, solo travellers, and outdoor enthusiasts, guests will love The Cabin’s outdoor rainwater shower, firepit, complimentary bikes, and private bush track leading to a secluded beach with use of kayaks included.

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2. Pinetrees Lodge

the Pinetrees Lodge nestled among tall pine trees, Lord Howe Island accommodation
This all-inclusive style lodge is surrounded by pines. (Image: Pinetrees Lodge)

A long-time favourite on Lord Howe Island, Pinetrees Lodge never gets old. As one of the longest-running family businesses in Australia, the lodge rests on land that’s been occupied by the family since their arrival on the island in 1848.

With a small collection of stylish rooms, suites and cottages, accommodation at Pinetrees Lodge has been regularly updated to provide guests with an elegant and comfortable stay.

Though you won’t find wi-fi and TV here (they’re intentionally excluded), there are endless nature-based and social activities to keep you occupied in this all-inclusive style lodge, with offerings that include shared facilities, yoga, guided tours, and culinary packages.

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3. Ocean View Apartments

the interior of Ocean View Apartments, Lord Howe Island accommodation
The self-catered units are complete with a kitchen and access to a games room. (Image: Ocean View Apartments)

An oldie but a goodie, Ocean View Apartments is one of Lord Howe Island’s original accommodation offerings. With 120 years’ worth of history, the apartments are conveniently located near the centre of town and the island’s main swimming spot, Lagoon Beach.

With their self-catered style, the units come complete with bedding, towels and cooking utensils, plus access to a games room, and the only full-size swimming pool on the island, that’s recently been renovated. Also included in a stay, is the use of outdoor equipment like paddleboards and snorkel gear from Ocean View’s boat house located at the lagoon foreshore.

Another feather in the property’s cap is the recent addition of its on-site restaurant, Driftwood. Specialising in Asian fusion, Driftwood Bar and Restaurant is a local favourite, as is Ocean View Apartments’ new coffee bar which operates daily from 7am-9am.

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4. Bowker Beach House

the Bowker Beach House within a forest, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Stay in a contemporary one-bedroom beach house in the forest. (Image: Bowker Beach House)

If you want somewhere all for yourself, Bowker Beach House is for you. Hidden away amongst native forest, yet centrally located, this contemporary one-bedroom beach house with its Instagram aesthetic comes with wrap-around timber decking, plus all mod cons and comforts like heated towel rails, coffee machine, Bose Bluetooth speakers, and fast wi-fi.

Perfect for lovers of indoors and outdoors, Bowker Beach House has an extensive library, boardgames, and selection of movies on a streaming service, plus it’s equipped with complimentary paddleboards, yoga mats and bicycles.

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5. Lagoon Landing

a beach-style bungalow at Lagoon Landing, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Each bungalow is designed in earthy tones with bleached timbers. (Image: lordhoweisland.info)

Though Lagoon Landing isn’t new, the two one-bedroom beach-style bungalows located near the central lagoon have undergone a refresh recently when current owners, Kylie and Rahnie Owens took over the business a few years ago.

Having spent their childhood living here, the Owens sisters have a nostalgic connection to the property, while their modern touches to the self-catered style cottages include cosy beach-chic style furniture, decorations and linens.

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6. Capella Lodge

Lord Howe Island accommodation
Take in views of Mounts Gower and Lidgebird from your luxe suite. (Image: Capella Lodge)

One of five Bailie Lodges within Australia and nine throughout the world, Capella Lodge is Lord Howe Island’s most premium resort, with its enviable position near the base of the island’s iconic twin peaks.

Consisting of 9 barefoot luxury suites connected to the main pavilion via boarded walkways and lush garden areas, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the coral reef plus Mounts Gower and Lidgebird from their accommodation, with some suites equipped with private hot tubs and plunge pools. There is also an onsite spa.

Inclusions here comprise of gourmet breakfast, in-suite bar, sunset drinks and canapes, an open bar from 6pm, and dinner matched with premium wines in the resort’s restaurant.

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7. Island House

the interior of Island House, Lord Howe Island accommodation
Each pavilion-style house is nestled among Banyan trees and Kentia palms. (Image: Anson Smart)

One of Lord Howe Island’s most recent accommodation options and certainly its most exclusive, is Island House. Comprised of two separate architecturally designed houses filled with museum-quality art, Danish mid-century furniture, high-fidelity sound systems, and kitchen full of produce grown on-site plus imported artisanal goods. Island House is set upon spacious grounds amid a forest of Kentia palms and old banyan trees.

Specialising in curated packages, Island House offers your own private chef and on-site manager to plan your island itinerary perfectly. Additions include a transit room for use as a flexible space and an adventure room stocked with high-quality outdoor adventure equipment. Best suited for whole-site bookings.

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8. Arajilla Retreat

With a collection of 12 luxurious suites amid lush surrounds, ranging from its 1-bedroom Kentia Suite to its 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Blue Peter Beach House, Arajilla Retreat is located on the sheltered northern end of the island, behind Old Settlement Beach.

The resort continues to be one of the island’s most popular high-end stays, with its packages including gourmet breakfast, light lunch, drinks and canapes in the resort’s bar lounge, plus a 3-course dinner in the restaurant. With its menu changing daily, Arajilla’s dedicated chefs prepare meals with organic produce from the resort’s kitchen garden, fresh island seafood, plus a selection of quality produce from the mainland. Complimentary bicycles and snorkel gear are also included for exploring the island further.

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Bonita Grima
Bonita Grima is a freelance travel writer with a background in television and radio production. With a passion for immersive storytelling, Bonita believes travel has the power to challenge, inspire and educate us, and encourage empathy by providing a window into the worlds of others. Based in Margaret River, when not working on a story, you’ll find her at the beach, on a trail, drinking great coffee, discovering what’s new around town, or simply dreaming up the next adventure!
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.